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Research

The Emerging Omicron Variant, Children and School

Many publications have demonstrated the detrimental effects of school closures on children, families and communities in the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, there is a surge of Omicron cases as children prepare to return to school around the world. While many children are asymptomatic or have mild disease, it is nevertheless an important problem.

Research

Complete Genome Sequences of Four Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophages: Kara-mokiny 8, Kara-mokiny 13, Kara-mokiny 16, and Boorn-mokiny 1

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen. Here, we report the isolation of four bacteriophages from wastewater. All four bacteriophages belong to the Myoviridae family.

Research

Complete Genomes of Three Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophages, Kara-mokiny 1, Kara-mokiny 2, and Kara-mokiny 3

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages Kara-mokiny 1, Kara-mokiny 2, and Kara-mokiny 3. These phages have lytic capabilities against P. aeruginosa and belong to the myovirus morphotype. The genomes of Kara-mokiny 1 and Kara-mokiny 2 are 67,075 bp while that of Kara-mokiny 3 is 66,019 bp long.

Research

Bacteriophage: A new therapeutic player to combat neutrophilic inflammation in chronic airway diseases

Persistent respiratory bacterial infections are a clinical burden in several chronic inflammatory airway diseases and are often associated with neutrophil infiltration into the lungs. Following recruitment, dysregulated neutrophil effector functions such as increased granule release and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) result in damage to airway tissue, contributing to the progression of lung disease.

Research

Standardised treatment and monitoring protocol to assess safety and tolerability of bacteriophage therapy for adult and paediatric patients (STAMP study): protocol for an open-label, single-arm trial

There has been renewed interest in the therapeutic use of bacteriophages (phages); however, standardised therapeutic protocols are lacking, and there is a paucity of rigorous clinical trial data assessing efficacy.

Research

Genome Sequence of a Lytic Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriophage Isolated from Breast Milk

We identified a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophage appearing to belong to Herelleviridae, genus Kayvirus. The bacteriophage, Biyabeda-mokiny 1, was isolated from breast milk using a clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus.

Research

Monitoring disease progression in childhood bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis (not related to cystic fibrosis) is a chronic lung disease caused by a range of etiologies but characterized by abnormal airway dilatation, recurrent respiratory symptoms, impaired quality of life and reduced life expectancy.

Research

Genome analysis and phenotypic characterization of Halomonas hibernica isolated from a traditional food process with novel quorum quenching and catalase activities

Traditional food processes can utilize bacteria to promote positive organoleptic qualities and increase shelf life. Wiltshire curing has a vital bacterial component that has not been fully investigated from a microbial perspective.

Research

The effect of azithromycin on structural lung disease in infants with cystic fibrosis (COMBAT CF): a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Structural lung disease and neutrophil-dominated airway inflammation is present from 3 months of age in children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis after newborn screening. We hypothesised that azithromycin, given three times weekly to infants with cystic fibrosis from diagnosis until age 36 months, would reduce the extent of structural lung disease as captured on chest CT scans.

Research

Macrophage PD-1 associates with neutrophilia and reduced bacterial killing in early cystic fibrosis airway disease

Macrophages are the major resident immune cells in human airways coordinating responses to infection and injury. In cystic fibrosis, neutrophils are recruited to the airways shortly after birth, and actively exocytose damaging enzymes prior to chronic infection, suggesting a potential defect in macrophage immunomodulatory function.